For plenty the debate is over, they've already committed to WiMAX or HSPA leading to LTE. But that never stops the larger, ongoing discussion. Wireless carriers and others are ramping up plans to upgrade or deploy entirely new networks to meet the ever-insatiable thirst...
Nokia Corp., two handset rivals and semiconductor companies active in the memory space are pursuing an open standard dubbed universal flash storage that could smooth the uptake path for a variety of converged mobile and consumer electronics devices.The standard is expected to be finished...
The following list includes venture capital and other investments into wireless companies announced during the past week. The value of the investment is included when available.--BiTMICRO: Woodside Investments L.P. led a $9.3 million Series F funding round into BiTMICRO Networks. The company said it...
It must be tough to give a daylong presentation to financial and industry analysts in New York when your take-aways essentially are "meet the new team," "we can do it" and "stay tuned."The latter two messages are acquiring such a familiar ring that one...
AS THE 3G MARKET HEATS UP, so has the level of litigation among industry players, exemplified by longrunning headlines involving the Goliaths and the Davids in wireless.The underlying disputes that have generated the current level of litigation may be few, but the number of...
The W-CDMA baseband chip business is morphing in real time, as various market pressures push and pull the players to partner, diversify their customer base or pursue less-demanding technologies.Data from Forward Concepts (see chart) shows that last year Texas Instruments Inc. was the global...
Texas Instruments Inc. said that lower demand across its product lines and a year-ago windfall produced a drop in profits in the second quarter.TI earned revenue of $3.42 billion, down 7% from the year-ago quarter, on lower demand.Net income was $610 million, down from...
Texas Instruments Inc. said that lower demand across its product lines and a year-ago windfall produced a precipitous drop in profits in the second quarter. TI earned revenue of $3.42 billion, down 7% from the year-ago quarter, on lower demand. Net income at the...
Covering the Hatfields' and the McCoys' blood feud might be easier than sifting through the conflicting claims between Broadcom Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. over patent rights and competitive issues.The two chip vendors' public rhetoric continued to heat up last week, even as the companies...
Initial research into the guts of Apple Inc.'s iPhone shows Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Infineon Technologies AG as two of the major component suppliers for the much-hyped device. But figures from tear-down firm iSuppli Corp. reveal that Apple itself is the true victor,...
IMAGINE THIS made-for-TV moment:An outsized individual-a Sumo wrestler, say-is about to perform the much-revered cannonball maneuver into the deep end of a swimming pool. A traditional cast of bon vivants garbed in linen suits and straw hats, ladies in polka-dot dresses with matching broad-brim...
THE CLOCK IS TICKING as Qualcomm Inc. pursues legal remedies and technical alternatives to counter a decision last week by a federal agency banning future models of 3G handsets containing the vendor's chips from entering the United States. The U.S. International Trade Commission stunned...
In a potentially serious blow to Qualcomm Inc.'s chipset and IP-licensing business, the U.S. International Trade Commission ordered a ban on new 3G handsets bearing Qualcomm chips that infringe on a Broadcom Corp. patent. The ruling could also have wide-ranging effects on the U.S....
Corporate infrastructure provider Avaya Inc. announced an $8.2 billion deal under which it will be bought out by two private-equity firms. The transaction is just the latest in a growing line of private-equity buyouts in the telecom industry.Under the terms of the agreement, Silver...
To Broadcom Corp., a favorable federal jury verdict last week in a patent infringement lawsuit against arch-rival Qualcomm Inc. was "gratifying." That's understandable, as the decision vindicated Broadcom's position in the case-at least for now-and came with a $19.6 million award, which could...
TPG, formerly Texas Pacific Group, was founded in 1992 and manages more than $30 billion in capital, spread across private equity, venture capital and public equity/debt investing. The company describes its investment philosophy as " value by investing in change-change created by industry trends,...
Alltel Corp. announced Sunday that it agreed to be acquired by two private-equity firms in a $27.5 billion transaction.The buyers are TPG Capital, the global buyout group of private-investment firm TPG (formerly Texas Pacific Group), and GS Capital Partners, the private-equity vehicle of The...
AT&TEd Whitacre announced that he will retire as CEO and chairman of the board at AT&T Inc. effective June 3. The 65-year-old executive is the longest-serving CEO in the telecommunications industry, having served as chairman and CEO of Southwestern Bell since 1990. When...
Motorola Inc. said it hired a platform technology guru for its mobile devices business, a pragmatic move that reflects the ailing handset giant's efforts to revive its fortunes-albeit one that will take precious time to be felt in the market.Whether that news actually reaches...
Texas Instruments Inc. reported revenue of $3.2 billion and net profit of $516 million, down 4 percent and nearly 12 percent, respectively, over the year-ago quarter. The chip vendor said that revenue was impacted by an inventory correction in the market. "We believe the...
Everyone loves a horse race, and in the first quarter global competition in the handset industry has tightened, infusing the high-stakes race with a sense that the future is in play. While first-quarter earnings reports and market analysis found no change in overall tier-one...
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said it shipped nearly 35 million handsets in the first quarter, posting telecom division profits-largely derived from handset sales-of $646 million. Both numbers were up nearly 30 percent over the year-ago quarter. Handset-related revenue, however, at $4.6 billion, was down...
Cellular SouthCellular South announced it promoted four of its vice presidents to senior vice president positions. Suzy Hays was promoted to senior vice president of customer operations, where she will oversee overall marketing, branding, advertising and public-relations strategies. She has been with the company...
Private-equity buyout companies are the darlings of Wall Street, snapping up companies left and right and flush with the cash to do so. According to Thomson Financial, buyouts by private-equity companies accounted for more than 25 percent of the total merger-and-acquisition activity in the...
